A Brief History of the Blackberry
The genus Rubus in the family Rosaceae includes red and black raspberries, Loganberry, Boysenberry, Marionberry and other blackberry types, and many others. Rubus species were important in the United States and Canada for hundreds of years. They were gathered by the Native Americans all over North America, and important to colonists as well. The first commercial nursery plants were sold by William Price in 1771.

Frequently Asked Questions about Preserves

Q: What is the difference between a jam, a preserve, a jelly and marmalade?

A: This is a common question. A jam and preserve are the same -- they contain chunks of fruit or pureed fruit. A jelly is made from the juice of the fruit and a marmalade is a jelly with suspended citrus rind.

Q: Where do you get the fruit for your jams?

A: Our citrus fruit for our marmalades comes from the Riverside area and also our own trees. The berries are from Northern California, Oregon and Washington. We also get fresh vegetables for some of our products from the Los Angeles produce market.

Q: What is the shelf life of your jams?

A: Our jams, jellies, and marmalades have a long shelf life, typically about 2 years. Some light colored products may darken with age but the flavor will remain.

Q: I notice that sometimes your jams crystallize, why?

A: We make all of our jams using pure cane sugar for optimum flavor. Because this sugar is not an invert sugar, it tends to 'crystallize' when refrigerated. This means that sugar crystals appear. The jam is still good. To make the crystals disappear, place in your microwave for about 15 seconds (remove the lid). We recommend that you store our jams at room temperature, even after opening. The shelf life after opening is about 6 months. If refrigeration is required, there will be a note on the label.